Headlines:

• Cardinal causes uproar with "Muslim scare" video at Vatican
• US to help create an elite Libyan force to combat Islamic extremists
• Deadline dismissed: US wants troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014
• Buddhist monks in protest over Muslim aid
• Philippines and Muslim rebels sign Shaky peace plan

Cardinal causes uproar with "Muslim scare" video at Vatican:

A Roman Catholic cardinal has caused an uproar at the Vatican by screening a spurious YouTube video that makes alarmist predictions about the growth of Islam in Europe. The seven-minute clip, called "Muslim Demographics," was the talk of an international gathering of bishops on Monday, two days after Cardinal Peter Turkson screened it during a free discussion period. The seven-minute clip, called "Muslim Demographics," was the talk of an international gathering of bishops on Monday, two days after Cardinal Peter Turkson screened it during a free discussion period. Turkson, a Ghanaian who is based in the Vatican and is president of its Council for Justice and Peace, sparked consternation among his fellow bishops over the clip. "As we were arriving this morning I was asked several times 'Who planned it? Whose was it? Who is behind it?" Father Thomas Rosica said at a briefing for journalists, who are not allowed to attend the synod sessions, the first since the screening. He said the clip had sparked "the most animated" discussion so far at the three-week conference, and one bishop said he would rebut Turkson by presenting a report with contrary data. The clip has brought Islam to the top of the agenda at the synod, attended by 262 bishops. "Islam is the buzzword," Rosica said. The clip, which has been viewed over 13 million times on YouTube since it was uploaded by an anonymous user in 2009, combines dramatic music with skewed population statistics to make claims about various European countries such as "In just 39 years France will be an Islamic republic." According to a study by the U.S.-based Pew Research Centre there were 2.18 billion Christians in 2010, half of which were Catholics. The total number of Muslims of all denominations was 1.6 billion and forecast to increase 35 percent to 2.2 billion by 2030, according to the research group. The Holy See's relations with Islam have not always been smooth. In 2006 Pope Benedict gave a speech in Regensburg which was perceived by some Muslims as an attack on Islam.

US to help create an elite Libyan force to combat Islamic extremists:

The Pentagon and State Department are speeding up efforts to help the Libyan government create a commando force to combat Islamic extremists like the ones who killed the American ambassador in Libya last month and to help counter the country's fractious militias, according to internal government documents. The Obama administration quietly won Congress's approval last month to shift about $8 million from Pentagon operations and counterterrorism aid budgeted for Pakistan to begin building an elite Libyan force over the next year that could ultimately number about 500 troops. American Special Operations forces could conduct much of the training, as they have with counterterrorism forces in Pakistan and Yemen, American officials said. The effort to establish the new unit was already under way before the assault that killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans at the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya. But the plan has taken on new urgency as the new government in Tripoli tries to assert control over the country's militant factions. According to an unclassified internal State Department memo sent to Congress on Sept. 4, the plan's goal is to enhance "Libya's ability to combat and defend against threats from Al Qaeda and its affiliates." A companion Pentagon document envisions that the Libyan commando force will "counter and defeat terrorist and violent extremist organizations." Right now, Libya has no such capability, American officials said.

Deadline dismissed: US wants troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014:

The United States' post-9/11 actions in Afghanistan have already earned the operation the distinction of being America's longest-running war, and promises on the verge of being shattered could cause an expected end to be still a ways in the future. Despite repeated pleas from US President Barack Obama to conclude the war in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, a leading official with the State Department tells reporters this week that the United States is readying plans that will leave boots on the ground for the unforeseeable future, perhaps long after the Obama-insisted deadline comes and goes. Marc Grossman, the State Department's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, reportedly told the press on Tuesday that upcoming negotiations in the region will iron out how and who will be left overseas after 2014 to allegedly engage in counterterrorism efforts and assist Afghans with military training. According to a report published this week in Foreign Policy, Grossman says the State Dept. will soon start up a round of talks with overseas officials with the goal of establishing a game plan for how America will conduct itself after the war is considered over. Josh Rogin with Foreign Policy writes, "the point of the upcoming negotiations is to agree on an extension of the US troop presence well past 2014, for the purposes of conducting counterterrorism operations and training and advising the Afghan security forces." Grossman adds that the State Dept. has already held meetings to discuss "how we will manage our forces going forward in Afghanistan," and now must begin negotiations to figure out a number of factors, including who and how many troops will be left behind. Earlier this week, officials with NATO confirmed that allied troops composed in part with US soldiers will remain in Afghanistan after the 2014 deadline, but strictly in an advisory role.

Buddhist monks in protest over Muslim aid:

Thousands of Buddhist monks marched in Burma's two biggest cities to protest against efforts by the world's biggest Islamic body to help Rohingya Muslims involved in deadly communal clashes four months ago. The monks, a potent political force in the predominantly Buddhist country, denounced plans by the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) to set up a liaison office in north-west Rakhine state, where violence erupted in June between ethnic Buddhist Rakhines and Rohingyas. Just hours after the monks dispersed, president Thein Sein's office announced it would not permit OIC representation in Burma. It was not immediately clear if the announcement was linked to the protests or had been planned in advance. "The government will not allow the opening of an OIC office as it is not in accordance with the desire of people," said a statement posted on its website. The monks were joined by ordinary citizens in Rangoon and Mandalay. Some carried placards, and said they would hold demonstrations until the government agreed to their demands. Despite being one of Asia's most ethnically diverse countries, Burma has entrenched ill-feelings towards the estimated 800,000 Rohingyas, most of whom live in poverty. Accused of being illegal immigrants and usually referred to as Bengalis because of their south Asian origin, the Rohingyas are not recognised as citizens by Burma.

Philippines and Muslim rebels sign Shaky peace plan:

The Philippines has signed a framework peace plan with the country's largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The deal follows lengthy negotiations aimed at ending a 40-year conflict that has cost an estimated 120,000 lives. The agreement was reached in early October after talks in Malaysia. It provides for a new autonomous region in part of the south where Muslims are a majority in a mainly Catholic nation. The framework deal was signed by the chief negotiators of the government and the rebels, and witnessed by President Benigno Aquino and MILF leader Murad Ebrahim at the presidential palace in Manila. The two leaders met and exchanged gifts ahead of the signing. Murad Ebrahim, said to be in his 60s, is the first MILF leader to visit the palace. "As the saying goes, the devil is in the details. Much work remains to be done in order to fully reap the fruits of this framework agreement," he said just before the deal was signed. Previous peace efforts have broken down and negotiations with the MILF over the last 15 years have been interrupted by violence. A copy of the framework deal says the parties are to commit to reaching a "comprehensive deal" by the end of the year. It is hoped that the agreement could be implemented on the ground by the end of Mr Aquino's term in 2016. Mr Aquino, who announced the deal a week ago, has warned that there are challenges ahead.

 

Abu Hashim